Cycling Safety - cycling is a common means of transport in Ireland

Cycling is a common means of transport in Ireland. It’s popular for several reasons: it’s great exercise, it’s cheap and it cuts down on travel time, especially during rush-hour.

But cyclists are also a vulnerable category of road user. Every year there are several cycling fatalities on Irish roads and countless collisions involving cyclists.

Researchers in Trinity College Dublin say cyclists are eight times at risk of dying on the roads compared with other vehicle users, but that the number seriously injured is not being accurately recorded.

Author Brian Caulfield, Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at Trinity College Dublin, said that many incidents involving cyclists might never be reported to gardai, meaning that they did not appear in statistics.

As a cyclist, you can reduce your risk of death or injury by following some simple advice:

Never cycle in the dark without adequate lighting – white for front, red for rear

Always wear luminous clothing such as hi-vis vests, fluorscent armbands and reflective belts so that other road users can see you

Wear a helmet

Make sure you keep to the left. Always look behind and give the proper signal before moving off, changing lanes or making a turn

Follow the rules of the road, never run traffic lights or weave unpredictably in and out of traffic

Maintain your bike properly – in particular, your brakes should work properly and your tyres should be inflated to the right pressure and be in good condition

Respect other road users – don’t get into shouting matches with motorists; stop at pedestrian crossings; don’t cycle on the footpath

Steer well clear of left-turning trucks: let them turn before you move ahead

Cycling for Children

Using a bike for the first time and learning to ride has been a rite of passage for generations of Irish children. Cycling is fun and sociable and, like swimming, a life-skill that stands to children in later years.

Yet, like many activities, cycling carries an element of risk. Parents play an important role in minimising the risk by giving them proper guidance and instruction at an early age to ensure that basic safety rules are absorbed while young.

Do’s and don’ts of safe cycling for children

Do ensure they:

Cycle a bike matched to their height and experience

Wear a safety helmet

Use lights in dark or dusky conditions

Don’t allow them to:

Cycle on public roads unsupervised (if under 12)

Wear loosely-worn scarves or other clothing that could get caught in the wheels or chain-set

Take unnecessary risks

Alex Todd Brand Manager at Its4women commented "90% of cyclist casualties in recent years were caused by careless inattention, firstly by drivers, secondly by cyclists. It’s a driver’s responsibility to avoid hitting a cyclist, not the responsibility of the cyclist to avoid getting hit, hence the prominent position that a cyclist should take when on the road. However, by concentrating at all times and being cautious around other road users you can reduce your risk of an accident."